Penn student dies 2 weeks after fall at frat house

Thursday, January 24, 2013

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A University of Pennsylvania senior has died after suffering a stroke after an apparent fall at a fraternity house.

Family members say Thomas J. Hartford died Wednesday. His father, Thomas W. Hartford, says the death came two weeks after his son was found in a pool of blood outside the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house around 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 10. The younger Hartford had been in intensive care since then.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports (http://bit.ly/WvUuls ) the 22-year-old Stroudsburg resident suffered skull and facial fractures and severe brain trauma. The elder Hartford says his son had drinks that night, but was not intoxicated.

Penn officials said in a statement they are “deeply saddened.” The fraternity says Hartford was a former member who remained close with many in the chapter.